Switch for electric railways.



PATBNTED MAR-24, 190s.

G. W. LINDER.

. SWITCH POR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION IILBD 00T.1, 1902.

No MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WILLIAM LINDER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,690,- dated March 24, v1903.` Y

Application filed October 18JV 1902. Serial No. 127,364. (No modell) i To all whom t may concern: I

Be it known that I, GEORGE WILLIAM LIN,-

DER, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches for Electric Railways, of whichrthel The device is particularly adapted for use on overhead trolleys and is so arranged that it can be adjusted longitudinal ofthe main feed-wire to arrange it in proper relative position for connection with the branch wire, and the parts are soconstructed that it can be readily removed for repairs or -for other purposes.

The construction of the invention, aswell as the manner of assembling the-parts, will be specifically referred to hereinafter in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a top plan view of a switch constructed in accordance with my invention and. showing the wires connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the switch, the cond uctor-wire being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the switch. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view in the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, the bolt being illustrated in elevation.A Fig. 5 is a crosssectional View on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 is a slightly-modified form of fastening device for the branch conductor-wire. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view clamping device. Y c

The switch comprises a straight arm l, which is provided with a longitudinal groovev 2 therein, which groove is intersected by a grooved branch arm 3, which merges into the groove 2 at an angle thereto, both grooved arms beingprovided for the reception of the conductor-wires 4 and 5, respectively. On the intermediate plate G, formed asa web for connecting the arms, is a boss, which is positioned between the grooves in the arms and is designed to receive the threaded end of a bolt 8, which passes through an inverted-U- of the shaped clamping device 9, the edges of which bear against the upper surface of the Wires, being curved at the lower edges of the verti-v cal portion of the clamp, so as to conform to the shape of the groove 2, which is inclined intermediate its ends. By securing the nut 8 the clamp 9 will be irmlyimpinged against the wires, so as to fasten them through the respective arms.

At the respective ends of the arm. 1 and at the free end of the arm 3'are additional clamping devices. As each clam ping device is a duplicate of the other, it will be only necessary to describe one of them. At each end of the arm are two parallel vertically-arranged ears or extensions 10 and 11, which are continuations ofthe side walls of the groove which they form. Diametrically oppositely disposed rectangular slots 12 are formed in the ears, and through these slots projects a-horizontallyw-disposed clamp- A ing-bar 13, which is internally threaded to receive a bolt 14, vertically arranged and bear- .wedge 15, having on its lower face aconcaved groove 16, conforming to the circumference of the wire which it clamps: The end of the wedge farthest from theend of the arm lis wider than the opposite end. The vobject ot' so arranging the wedge is to provide against displacement thereof, owing to any strain to which the conductor-wire may be subjected. By reference to Fig. 2 it will beapparent that the greater the strain or pull on the conductorwire the greater will be the clamping eect on the wedge, and it will beimpossible for the wedge to become displacedrby any outward pull oi'4 the conductor-wire.' 1f it is necessary, however, or advisable to remove the wedge,this can be accomplished by inserting the tool between the side of the bar 13 and the vertical lip or iiange V17, which projects from one end of the wedge, or a rear- Ward movement can be imparted to thewedge after releasing the bolt 14. When vthe bolt '14 is removed from the bar 13,.a' lateral displacement of the bar is prevented by means of two upwardly-projecting flanges or lips 18 and 19.

The ends of the arms l and the arm 3 constitute runners 20, 21, and 22, which are spaced apart in the bottom of the plate 6, as

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shown in Fig. 3, and these are arranged to guide the trolley from the branch to the main line, as is commonly done with the switches now in use.

The reference-numerals 23 and 24: constitute guard-flanges which depend from the edges of the plate, though one or both of which can be formed integral with the plate; but I prefer to cast these flanges separate therefrom and secure them to the side edges by means of suitable fastening devices, such as pins or bolts 24, The object of making these flanges of separate pieces is because the flanges frequently become broken by contact with the trolley-wheel, and it will be a simple matter to replace them by moving the bolts Elia. The perforate arms 25 and 26 are for the purposes of attachment to the stringers, which can be fastened to suitable supports, such as poles, to hold the switch in a proper elevated position.

In lieu of the clamping device 9 the trolleywire 5 can be fastened to the arm 3 by means of transverse pins 27 and 28, which can be driven through the side walls of the groove in the arm andthe wire wrapped therearound, as shown in Fig. 6. When the wire is fastened in this manner, the additional clamp at the end of the larm affords ample securing means so as to prevent the wire from becoming detached from the switch.

In assembling the parts the switch proper can be put in a position so that the wire 4. and the wire 5 will rest in the groove in the respective arms thereof, and they can be clamped to the switch by the clamp 9 or by pins, as shown in Fig. o'. The wedges will then be laid upon the wire, the bars placed in the slots in the ears 10 and 1l, and the screwbolts 14 will be clamped upon the wedges, so as to cause them to impinge the wire and prevent the displacement thereof. The lower edges of this U-shaped clamping device are serrated, being provided with teeth 9, The teeth on the respective sides or depending ilanges of the clamping device project in opposite directions, so as to offer resistance to the play of the wires, the pulls of which are in opposite direction.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the switch can be readily removed in a minimum space of time and a new one readily applied to the trolley-wire. It will also be apparent that in the event that the wires become broken the broken ends can be readily removed and a new wire replaced quickly and without materially affecting the construction of the switch.

I claiml. An electric switch having grooved arms in the side walls of which are slots,of clamps on the ends of the respective arms for engagement with the trolley-wires, said clamps comprising transverse bars projecting through the slots, wedgeblocks below the bars, the thickest portion being more distant from the ends of the arms, and a clamping screw threaded through the bars and designed to bear against the wedge-block.

2. An electric switch having grooved surfaces in which the trolley-wires are adapted to rest, of an inverted-U-shaped clamp designed to bear upon the trolley-wires and force them in the grooves, and a device for holding the clamp rigid with relation to the wires and the switch, and clamps near the ends of the grooves for fastening the wires therein.

3. A clamping device for a trolley-switch comprising a transverse bar projecting through the side walls of one of the arms, a wedge with the bar, the narrowest portion of which is adjacent the end of the groove, and a threaded bolt projecting through the bar yand bearing upon the wedge.

4:. A clamping device for trolley-wires comprising a transverse bar projecting through slots in the side walls of the trolley-support and forming right-angularly-projecting ends whereby a lateral displacement of the bar will be prevented, a wedge arranged under the bar, and an adjustable connection between the bar and the wedge whereby the wedge can be forced into rigid contact with the wire on the support.

5. The combination with a trolley-switch having grooves therein and oppositely-dis posed wires, of a clam ping device carried thereby comprising an approximately inverted-U-shaped jaw on the edges of which are oppositely-di'sposed teeth adapted to bear against the wire and thus force them into the grooveand means for retaining the jaw in proper clamping position.

In testimony whereof I allx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE WILLIAM LINDER. 7Witnesses:

WILLIAM G. ScHA'rz, WILLIAM GERNAND.

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